fore, as the ministry began, in 1773, to order "the collection of taxes on tea," the colonies took fire again: and the old flame of '53 was completely rekindled throughout the continent. But still in the very storm and tempest of their rage, they never lost sight of the respect due their mother country. Their numerous letters and petitions to the King, to the Parliament, and to the people of Britain, all, all, breathe the full spirit of dutiful children, and of loving brothers. In terms the most modest and pathetic, they state the extreme injustice and barbarity of such measures-their total inconsistency with the spirit of the British Constitution-their positive inadmissibility into America-or, in that event, the certainty of a civil war, with all its fatal effects on the two countries.

Tempered with meekness, and pointed with truth, their arguments reach the hearts of the British patriots, who all fly in eager myriads to extinguish the kindling flames of civil war. Foremost of this noble band is seen the venerable form of Chatham. Though worn with years and infirmities, he quits his bed; and, muffled up in flannels and furs, crawls to the house of lords, to give his last advice, and yet avert, if possible, the impending ruin. He rises to speak. A solemn silence prevails, while the looks of the crowded audience are bending forward upon him, to catch the accents of his magic tongue. His eyes are upon the ground: but his thoughts are not there they are travelling like sun-beams over all the earth. Britain and America, with all their population and interests, lie open before his vast mind, with the varied evils of the threatened war. In Britain he beholds a fearful pause in the pulse of industry and joy-the loom is still-the anvil re sounds no more-while the harbours, late alive with bustling business and cheerful songs, now crowded with silent dismantled ships, present a scene of national mourning. In the colonies he sees the

plains, lately crowned with joyful harvests, now covered with armed bands of Britons and Americans rushing to murderous battle-while in Europe, the proud Spaniard, the sarcastic Gaul, and broad grinning Hollander, with shrugs and sneers enjoy the coming fray, as a welcome prelude to the downfall of their hated rival. He next paints the Americans as native sons of Britain-and, at once, enthusiastic lovers of liberty and of their mother country-ready, as her children, to give her every thing; but, as her slaves, nothing. Though harshly treated, they still love her, and wish for nothing so much as a hearty reconciliation, and a glad return of all the former friendships and blessings. At thought of this most desirable of all events, the parent soul of the great orator is stirred within him, his angel frame trembles with strong feeling, which heaves his labouring bosom, and swells his changeful face. At length his powerful words break forth.

But

"For God's sake then, my lords, let the way be instantly opened for reconciliation. I say instantly; or it will be too late for ever. The Americans tell you-and remember, it is the language of the whole continent-they tell you, they will never submit to be taxed without their own consent. They insist on a repeal of your laws. They do not ask it as a favour. They claim it as a right. They demand it. -And I tell you the acts must be repealed. They will be repealed. You cannot enforce them. bare repeal will not satisfy this enlightened and spirited people. What! satisfy them by repealing a bit of paper-by repealing a piece of parchment! No! you must declare you have no right to tax them. Then they may trust you-then they will come into you. There are, my lords, three millions of whigs in America. Three millions of whigs, with arms in their hands, are a formidable body! There are, 1 trust, double that number of whigs in England. And I hope the whigs in both countries will join and

make a common cause. They are united by the strongest ties of sentiment and interest; and will therefore, I hope, fly to support their brethren. In this most alarming and distracted state of our affairs, though borne down by a cruel disease, I have crawled to this house, my lords, to give you my best advice, which is, to beseech his majesty that orders may instantly be dispatched to General Gage to remove the troops from Boston. Their presence is a source of perpetual irritation and suspicion to those people. How can they trust you, with the bayonet at their breasts? They have all the reason in the world to believe that you mean their death or slavery. Let us then set to this business in earnest. There is no time to be lost. Every moment is big with danger. Nay, while I am now speaking, the decisive blow may be struck, and millions involved in the dreadful consequences! The very first drop of blood that is drawn, will make a wound perhaps never to be healed- -a wound of such rancorous malignity, as will, in all probability, mortify the whole body, and hasten, both on England and America, that dissolution to which all nations are destined."

Here was a speech, sufficient, one would have thought, to stop the career of the maddest politicians. -But neither this, nor the advice of lord Camden, nor the numerous and pathetic addresses from London, Liverpool, and Jamaica, could produce the least change in the views of the ministry. "Let the

Americans," said lord Gower with a sneer, "sit talking about their natural rights! their divine rights! and such stuff! we will send them over a few regiments of grenadiers to help their consultations!" Thus high-toned was the language of ministry, and thus stoutly bent on the submission of the AmeriIndeed, in some instances, they would not honour them so far as to give their "humble petitions" a reading; but consigned them to what the

cans.

whig opposition pleasantly called, "the committee of oblivion."

The tea-tax was, of course, at any rate to be collected. But as there could be no tax without tea, nor tea unless it was sent, several ships of that obnoxious weed were purposely dispatched for America. Lord Fairfax happened to be at Mount Vernon when Washington received advice from a friend in London that the tea-ships were about to sail. . . . « Well, my lord," said he, " and so the ships, with the gun-powder tea, are, it seems, on their way to America !"

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tea."

Well, but colonel, why do you call it gunpowder

"Why, I am afraid, my lord," replied Washington, "it will prove inflammable, and produce an explosion that will shake both countries."

The event corresponded with Washington's prediction. Looked on as sent to insult and enslave them, the ships were every where received with the heartiest curses of the people, who quickly boarded them-in some places furiously emptying their fragrant cargoes into the flashing deep; in others, sternly ordering the captains to depart, under the penalty of being instantly tucked up to the yard arms.

On the arrival of this news in England, the countenance of the minister was dark with fury; and he proceeded, without delay, to mix up for the colonies a cup of fiery indignation, of which Boston, it seems, was to have the largest dose. As that most undutiful child had always led off the dance in outrage and rebellion against the parent state, it was determined that she should pay the piper for old and new... that her purse should answer for all the tea that had been destroyed... that her luxuriant trade, which had made her so wanton, should be taken from her-and, that, in spite of her high looks and proud stomach, she should sit on the stool of repentance, until his gracious majesty, George III. should be pleased to pronounce her pardon!!

On the receipt of this intelligence at Boston, the passions of the people flew up, five hundred degrees above blood-heat! throughout the continent the fever raged with equal fury. The colonies all extolled Boston for the firmness with which she had asserted her chartered rights.... Liberal contributions were made for her relief: and this ministerial attack on her liberties, was considered as an attack on the liberties of the whole, which were now thought to be in such danger, as loudly to call for a general congress from all the colonies, to deliberate on their common interest. This most unkingly body commenced its session in Philadelphia, September 5th, 1774. They began with publishing a bill of rights, wherein they repeated "their loyalty and love to the mother country, together with an earnest wish for constitutional dependence on her. But, at the same time, they begged leave to assure her, that though she, in her excessive fondness, might suffer herself to be bound and insulted by North and Bute, and other Philistine lords, yet they, for their parts, were resolved, like true sons of British Sampsons, to rise and fight to the last locks of their heads. They asserted, and begged leave to do it pretty roundly too, as it was now high time to speak plain, that by the immutable laws of nature by the principles of the British constitution and by their several charters, they had a right to liberty, the liberty of British subjects -that their ever honored fathers, at the time of their emigration to this country, were entitled to all the rights of freemen-and since, by such emigration they had neither forfeited nor surrendered these rights that they their children, were determined, at the risk of every thing short of their eternal salvation, to defend and to transmit them entire to their innocent and beloved offspring."

Millions of choice spirits in England, Scotland, and Ireland, cried out "that's well said! and may God's arms strike with our American brethren !"